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NancyJohnson

⭐Supporting Member⭐
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Everything posted by NancyJohnson

  1. [quote name='Ed_S' timestamp='1401089216' post='2459817'] I used an RBI into a Crown XLS1500 for a while. Obligatory grainy phone-camera picture included.. They're great power amps, but sadly they need to be driven with more oomph than my RBI could ever put out, so whilst it was a loud rig, it was always running flat out to try and keep up. I ended up dismantling the rig, using the RBI for recording and the XLS to power the PA tops. Guess what I'm saying is whatever you choose, run the numbers and make sure that the sensitivity of the power amp input is right to match up with the pre-amp output. [/quote] One of the options I'm looking at is/was a Crown Drivecore XLS1500, with the Sansamp as the front end. I got an email from Harman who say my cabinets daisy-chained will be 1500w/4ohms and the XLS1500 (running in bridged mono) is the minimum I should be using to drive the speakers to their best capacity. Apparently (this was inferred by Harman), it's OK to run a higher output amp (XLS2000/2500) for more headroom...official specs say these two amps will deliver 2.1KW and 2.4KW respectively in bridged-mono, which frankly is overkill. The more I read, the more confused I'm getting. I just want a lightweight amp, that delivers a decent amount of volume when required. Our (new) drummer is a very hard hitter and while my guitarist is (only) using a 120w Bugera 333XL head into one of their 4x12s and it's painful loud. I guess I just want to buy something that is fit for purpose. I mean what's the point of upgrading if things aren't right when you do? P
  2. [quote name='Ed_S' timestamp='1401098573' post='2459930'] I'm pretty sure I tried the lot, but the setup as pictured was going into the front of the RBI with the DBX in the loop and out to the XLS over XLR-XLR. Wow.. that was a lot of TLAs! The other problem I found with the RBI was that it's not the quietest (or least noise susceptible, maybe) pre-amp out there, so when I tried going jack-jack instead of XLR-XLR and putting a clean boost (MXR MicroAmp) in the middle, the electrical hum was just too prevalent. Edit: forgot to answer the last bit - I ended up with the power amp full-up and using the level on the RBI as the master volume, even though that doesn't appear to be the case on the picture. [/quote] It's been trial and error here too. I've been looking on Talkbass - consensus seems to be that the RBI doesn't seem to have any issues driving a poweramp - someone from Tech 21 posted on one thread that they recommended running the poweramp on full and using the RBI level knob to control the master volume. Interestingly, going back to my set up, I'm presently running the RBI through the effects return on an Ashdown ABM EVOIII racked head, effectively bypassing the Ashdown pre-stage and utilising just the poweramp side of the amp. I've never run the Ashdown with the master volume (or in the power amp sense, accentuator) maxxed out, so this might be worth trying too. That said, good or not, it's still going to weigh a ton and that's part of the issue for me to look for something lighter. Personal choice of (Class-D) power amps seem to increased somewhat over the last 48 hours...Peavey IPR2/2000 (£400-ish), Carvin DCM2000L (£499) and the Crest Pro-Lite 2.0 (£549). P
  3. [quote name='Ed_S' timestamp='1401089216' post='2459817'] I used an RBI into a Crown XLS1500 for a while. They're great power amps, but sadly they need to be driven with more oomph than my RBI could ever put out, so whilst it was a loud rig, it was always running flat out to try and keep up. [/quote] Can you clarify from memory how you were using the RBI/amp together? I've heard/read so many conflicting methods of connections (jack to jack, XLR to XLR), going into the front panel RBI or the rear one. Power amp full up and control the overall output with the RBI level knob. And so on.
  4. Get your cables from Dave/OBBM. He does great stuff. P
  5. I know this might sound stupid/simple, but have a look (online) for an image of the back of the head; there's bound to be images somewhere. If it's got a Speakon out, then use a Speakon! That said, most new Speakon sockets are also wired to accept a 1/4" jack. P
  6. I'm pretty happy with my front end choice of bass/processing (Thunderbirds/Sansamp RBI or Sansamp BDDI), but as the years roll on, the sheer weight of my backline is killing me...my cabinets are on castors and are manageable, but the weight of my 4U rack literally feels like it's going to yank my arm from it's socket. Recently, I've been looking at replacing my racked amplifier with a [b]Class-D [/b]power amp. The main draw is the neutrality of the output aligned with the increased power output and most importantly a drop in weight. (For the record, I run the Sansamp into the effects return of the head bypassing the pre-stage.) I've done a bit of personal research and as of yesterday, I was leaning towards a [url="http://peavey.com/products/index.cfm/item/703/118436/IPR2%26trade%3B%26nbsp%3B2000"]Peavey IPR2/2000[/url] - not on sale here until next month. Looking at US prices and comparable amps (Crown/Yamaha/Crest etc.). I'm probably looking at a purchase price of c.£400.00, which is fine. Peavey gear seems to have a reputation for being pretty much bombproof and this amp will deliver 600w into 4ohms, weighs under 4kg and is 10" deep, so it'll fit in a shallow rack. Yesterday, I demoed a £500 Carvin DCM2000L (550w into 4ohms) at Bassgear, Twyford and was mightily impressed. (I didn't even know Carvin outboard gear was available over here.) So advice (and please don't muddy the water with regular amp postings...try an keep it to Class-D power amp content). What are you using as a pre-stage? How reliable is it? Problems? This isn't a vanity project; I'm certain that there's dozens (hundreds) of members here who are in the same boat as me and I'm sure we could all do with some clear advice and recommendations. Thanks Paul
  7. OK...let's start over here. Output/hotness. Difficult to quantify as I only have passive basses to compare to at the present time. By way of comparison however, my long departed Bongo 5HH was off the scale...active, very hot, fairly uncontrollable tone; loved that bass, hated how it sounded at the end of the session after continual tweaking of the controls. Insofar as hotness goes, there's parity with the other passive basses I use. Obviously bear in mind that scale of output is dependent on several factors; pickup height, finger/pick style, gauge of strings. I have a tendency to set up my basses in a manner that leans towards a similarity in output, by which I mean, I just like to plug in, ramp the controls up and leave my outboard gear to control what comes out of the speakers. It sounds good, different/phatter to my reverse Thunderbirds (or which there are many). It has 500K CTS pots, the stock Gibsons were sucking the highend out of the pickups. If you're in the vicinity (Reading), you're free to come round for a noodle. We have good coffee. P
  8. [quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1400266357' post='2452506'] My observations, I see 2 things here. 1- Your guitarist is playing through a 4x12. Why? A 1x12 should be more than ample for the majority of gigs unless he's playing outdoors with no PA support. 2- It appears like you want to sound like the guitarist & he wants to sound like the bassist. Have you thought about swapping instruments for a song? I hope that didn't come across as having a dig. It most certainly wasn't meant to & as it is, having your bass with a more mid to high tone & the guitar with a bassy tone may work really well & give your band it's sound. At the end of the day, it's how the whole band sounds that is important, & if the audience think you sound great, then that's a good thing. Edited to say, I prefer 10s. They have a nicer, more aesthetically pleasing curve to the diameter than all other sizes. [/quote] I honestly don't take offense, so don't worry. We sound [i]great [/i]live and generally people are complimentary. Why a 4x12? It's his choice...he has talked about going with a 2x12. Hell, he's happy, he's a lovely guy and that makes me happy. Me? I just like my tone. I'm a more than adequate guitarist, but I prefer bass. Easier/sexier. P
  9. [quote name='Mr.T' timestamp='1399748600' post='2447323'] I hate it as well, but it seems that most Guitards just swamp the sound with mush!!! When I used to gig with my Status, I had an amazing solo sound..... But am finding a Fender (Fitted with TI Jazz Flats) sits in my current bands mix better. ..... Sad, but unfortunately true! [/quote] OK, perhaps I didn't put that right, so let me put things into perspective. The guitarist in Nancy Johnson plays with a tone at the very phat end of the frequency - so much so that live there appears (to my ears) to be significant crossover from both our instruments. I have tried to go the route of 'owning your frequency', but we always tend to be to differ...I've twiddled with the knobs on his amp (SG/Bugera head and 4x12), but there's s fine line between full on rawk \m/ and AM radio coming out of his set up. If anything, my desired tone (a kind of Geddy Lee/Jean Jacques Burnel grunt/fuzz hybrid), sits in a higher and wider range than the guitar. I can hear everything without issue, but find the guitar muddies a lot of the nuances of my technique/sounds. Incidentally, the official technical spec of the cabinets (Hartke Hydrive 1x15 and 4x10 enclosures) gives that the 4x10 potentially delivers 10Hz more low end than the 1x15, which i find a little unfathomable, but I suppose reflects why the 4x10 gets nights out and the 1x15 tends to stay home alone. P
  10. No, sorry. Karl has something I'm holding out for (the bass we can't name, heh). Needs to be a direct sale or a chain of some kind. P
  11. Happy Sunday morning. Here's some more pics. The case: The bass in da case: The case-candy (including the original bridge): Front of the bass: Back of the bass: Hipshot Supertone bridge: The control cavity (CTS 500k pots). Rewire was done by Julian Mullen in Reading, Berkshire ([url="http://homepage.ntlworld.com/julian.mullen/index.htm"]http://homepage.ntlworld.com/julian.mullen/index.htm[/url]): Rear of the headstock showing the volute and serial number. None of my other TBs have the volute and I'm not certain whether the original 60s version did either. Irrespective (and despite the neck profile (which is similar to a Precision, rather than the skinny Jazz-esque profile of the reverse models), you'd think it has to be a good thing to strengthen the headstock at that position): That's it! Someone buy it soon! Trying to do a deal with Karl!! Cheers P
  12. I bought these a while back for a project, but they never got used. They're passive for a six string bass and utilise EMGs 'Quik-Connect' cabling method. They're fresh in the box, unused. £50 each/£90 the pair shipped. Link to the EMG site: [url="http://www.emgpickups.com/bass/extended-series/passive/45hz.html"]http://www.emgpickup...ssive/45hz.html[/url] Cheers Paul
  13. [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1399714297' post='2446862'] Not sure if this has been linked elsewhere but I just read this: [url="http://www.iguitarmag.com/news/2014/05/wilko-johnson-undergoes-cancer-surgery/"]http://www.iguitarma...cancer-surgery/[/url] [/quote] I used to work for Hollister (not the clothing company)...we were (and they probably still are) world leaders in colostomy/stoma care. If the surgery has resulted in removal of his small and large intestines, he's going to end up with an illeostomy, dependent on where the surgery terminated the small intestine. It's a pretty unpleasant thing to live with and he'll need to wear an illestomy pouch for the rest of his life, but if there's a silver lining, he'll be alive, which let's face it, is better than being in the ground. Hope we see him up and about soon. P
  14. [quote name='floFC' timestamp='1399718801' post='2446934'] I did ask Ashdown and the ones they sell are the larger ones, they don't supply the smaller type. [/quote] Over the years I've had to shout Ashdown a couple of times about things and have generally found them to be pretty accommodating...they've never actually charged me for anything! P
  15. I'm fortunate enough to have a 4x10 and a 1x15, both have high frequency horns. I rarely pair them up and the 4x10 is the cabinet I tend to use most of the time. To be honest, I've never really felt once the band is fully up to volume that I could really differentiate between the two cabs - any frequency range gets lost in the overall mix and all I hear is whump. P
  16. I think if I can shift this, and it's still available, then I may be ordering that. It's around £1.5k.
  17. [quote name='Buzzardist' timestamp='1399542801' post='2445117'] Stunning..... Do you like the Status Buzzard 2 bass? [/quote] Not my thing I'm afraid! I play in a four piece punky band! Cheers P
  18. OK, well here's the skinny and I'm going to be brutally honest. I bought this new last year and I will be honest, I was fairly smitten; it was my first fresh out of the box bass in some years and I'd been waiting many moons for it to arrive. Forum members who share an interest in these basses will be aware my purchase wasn't without issues and the net result was that it required a rewire as the original Gibson pots were well under the recommendation for the pickups, so got changed to 500K units. (And before you ask, no I don't...I donated these to Neephid for his pant-wettingly exciting Ripper rescue project.) Moving swiftly along, I've tried to ingratiate this bass into my band, but put simply, tonally it just doesn't fit. Despite the bass sharing pretty much the same guts as my other Thunderbirds, tonally it's a waaaay phatter than my desired hybrid Geddy Lee/Jean Jacques Burnel poop. It's never been, or will be, my go to bass and as a consequence it's only been out of the house about five times. It plays lovely, sounds great, balances great and has plenty of boom. To the specifics, the bass has the original hard shell case and is fitted with a Hipshot Supertone bridge and Dunlop Straplocks. I will provide the original bridge should the buyer wish to revert it back to stock visually. There's an off white replacement guard fitted (the 'bird logo is a vinyl sticker) and I'll provide the original pickguard too. New set of D'Addarios fitted at the weekend. It's pretty minty, small amount of buckle rash behind the top horn. No dings or chips. For the record, Gibson are rumoured to have made around 200 of these before discontinuing production (the Pelham Blue ones double that), so it is a classic in the making, but I'm sure I'll be long dead before collectors are hunting these down and saying, '[i]Woo, it's a 2013. How many thousand do you want?[/i]'. I'm looking for a bargain £750.00 or part trades (we can haggle over trade values); all in all, I guess it owes me about £950 including the mods. I'm in no rush to sell and have other basses to use, so it'll just sit in the case until someone comes knocking. From a trade perspective, I'd only really be looking at a cherry-finish Gibson Thunderbird (no studio versions please), a Musicman Stingray (black/rosewood), a nice Euro/US Spector or a R*ck*nb*ck*r Blackstar or an original spec 400* series in Jetglo. To make any deals sweeter, I could also (but would be reluctant to) chuck in my 2008 reverse Thunderbird as well, so you'd have a mirrored pair! Thanks for reading P
  19. Best of luck with the procedure once it happens...I took a look at the [i]not gory[/i] You Tube thing and then a quick peak at the actual op. I still find it remarkable that surgery - irrespective of how brutal it looks - can resolve major issues that the patient would historically have just put up with. P
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